Adjustable back supprot cushions



D. T. SWANN ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT CUSHIONS Oct. 24, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1966 INVENTORQ Dav/'0 T dwaxm ATTORNEYOct. 24, 1967 D. T. SWANN 3,

I ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT CUSHIONS Fi'id April 14/ 1966 2 Shets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Dav/0 7. Swarm ArroR/vlsy United States Patent 3,348,880ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT CUSHIONS David T. Swann, 16309 Harvard Ave.,Cleveland, Ohio 44128 Filed Apr. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 542,554 1 Claim.(Cl. 297-230) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed herein aback supporting cushion having separately inflatable chambers disposedhorizontally at diflerent levels for selectively supporting differentportions of a users back.

This invention relates to pneumatic cushions and more particularly to aninflatable back-supporting cushion adapted to provide selectivelocalized support to dilferent portions of a persons back as needed ordesired.

Because individuals vary in size, weight, and posture, it is notpossible to provide a standardized backrest portion for a chair or seatwhich is equally comfortable for all persons. Additionally, many peopleare susceptible to extreme fatigue and considerable pain when requiredto sit for long periods of time with their backs in the same positionwithout localized support to olfset and relieve individual backailments.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a backrestcushion which is adapted to provide l ctgve, localized support todifferent regions of a persons ack.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a backrest cushionwhich comprises a plurality of individually inflatable chambers wherebythe contour of said cushion can be varied to provide support forselected areas of a persons back.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a backrest cushion ofthe type referred to which is adapted to be provided as a separate unitfor detachable mounting to the backrest of any ordinary chair or seat.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a backrestcushion which is readily adapted for mounting inside the backrest of achair or seat.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a backrestcushion having the above characteristics which is especially adapted foruse on or in the backrest portion of an automobile seat.

Further objects of the invention and the invention itself will becomereadily apparent from the following description thereof, reference beingmade throughout to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an automobile seat having the backrestcushion of this invention detachably mounted thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the backrest cushion alone as seenprimarily from the rear thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the backrest cushion of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 6, 7, and 8 are side views of an automobile seat and drivershowing, diagrammatically, the backrest cushion of this inventioninflated in various ways;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of an automobile seat, driver, and thebackrest cushion of this invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a side plan view of a modified automobile seat showing thebackrest cushion of this invention built into the backrest of said seat.

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Referring now to the drawings in all of which like parts are designatedby like reference numerals, and referring particularly to FIGURES 1-3,the backrest cushion of this invention is generally shown at 20detachably mounted to the backrest 11 of an automobile seat 10. Saidcushion extends from a seat portion 12 of said seat 10 upwardly in frontof said backrest and projects a short distance above an upper edge 13 ofsaid backrest.

In the form of the invention herein illustrated and described, thebackrest cushion 20 comprises three chambers, an upper chamber 22, amiddle chamber 23, and a lower chamber 24. The chambers 22 and 23 aredivided horizontally by a flexible wall 25, and thechambers 23 and 24are divided by a flexible wall 26. The wall means 21 and the horizontalwalls 25 and 26 are preferably made from rubber, flexible plastic, orother suitable flexible material.

As well shown in FIGURES 3-5, the chambers 22, 23, and 24 are providedwith generally semicircular, vertically extending, forwardly projectingprotuberances 27 which project forwardly of the main body 28 of eachchamber.

The upper chamber 22 is also provided with a generally semicircular,horizontally extending, forwardly projecting protuberance 29 thelaterally directed ends of which join the vertically extendingprotuberances 27 at the sides of the chambers to provide a continuous,resilient ridge along the sides and across the top of the backrestcushion 20.

As.well shown in FIGURES l-4, the protuberance 29 is provided with arounded recess 30 midway between the sides of the backrest cushion 20 inthe area where the base of the neck of the person seated -on the seat 10would normally be disposed. Said recess 30 is adapted to fit over thebase of a persons neck at the upper part of the back to relieve fatiguein the upper part of the neck.

Each chamber 22, 23, and 24 is airtight with respect to its adjacentchamber. Said chambers 22, 23, and 24 ar provided with individualinflating valves 32, 33, and 34, respectively, which enable the user toinflate each chamber the desired amount without regard to the pressurein the other chambers.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, means are preferably provided fordetachably mounting the backrest cushion 20 to the backrest 11. Asherein illustrated, said means comprise a pair of inverted, U-shapedhooks 36 made of steel rods or the like formed to provide downwardlyprojecting, elongated legs 37 disposed lengthwise against the back ofthe cushion 20 adjacent to the upper chamber 22. The upper end of eachleg 37 carries a substantially honzontally disposed, rearwardly directedweb portion 38 the rearwardly projecting end of which carries adownwardly projecting relatively shorter leg 39.

Mounting pockets 40 are secured to the rear surface of the backrestcushion 20 at the back of the chamber 22, each said mounting pocketcomprising a vertically elongated strip of sheet material secured in anysuitable manner along its side and bottom edge portions 41 and 42,respectively. The upper edge of each pocket 40 is unattached andaifordsan opening into which the leg 37 of a hook 36 is inserted. With the legs37 seated in said pockets, the backrest cushion 20 is hooked onto theback rest 11 with the web portions 38 projecting over the upper edge 13and the shorter legs 37 projecting downwardly behind said backrest. Thepockets 40 may be made of a flexible material such as cloth or may bemade of thin sheet metal or heavy plastic, thereby affording a certainrigidity to the upper portion of the backrest cushion 20.

It will be readily understoodthat With all three chambers 22, 23, and 24inflated and the backrest cushion 20 mounted to the backrest 11, asillustrated, a person seated in the seat 10 is provided with acomfortable back and lower neck support which greatly increases thecomfort of driver or passenger. As illustrated in FIGURE 9, th sideprotuberanoes 27 project forwardly a short distance on either side ofthe person thereby reducing the tendency of the body to sway sidewaysand further adding to the comfort of the person by reducing fatigue. Theside protuberances also assist in maintaining the cushion in erectpositioning during use. FIGURES 6, 7, and 8 illustrate the manner inwhich the chambers 22, 23, and 24 can be inflated different amounts toprovide localized support to the back to meet the requirements ofdifferent persons. In FIGURE 6, the upper chamber 22 is inflated morethan the chambers 23 and 24 thereby providing localized support in theregion of the upper spine, shoulders, and lower neck. In FIGURE 7, themiddle chamber 23 is relatively more inflated to give support to thesmall of the back. In FIGURE 8, the lowerv chamber 24 is inflated morethan the two upper chambers to provide relief in th sacroiliac region ofthe back. Thus, by selective controlled inflation of the separatechambers by the user, the most comfortable contour and support of theparticular users backcan be achieved.

FIGURE 10 shows a modified seat 10 wherein a backrest cushion 20' isbuilt into a backrest 11'. of said seat. The cushion 20" comprises threechambers 22, 23, and 24 separately inflatable by valves 32", 33', and34, respectively. The backrest 11 is preferably covered with a stretchfabric or the like whereby the cover will conform exactly to the shapeof the backrest cushion 20'.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustratedand described in relation to an automobile seat, it will be readilyappreciated that the invention could be used in watercraft, aircraft, orin any chair, sofa, or the like.

It will be readily understood that many changes in the details of theinvention as herein described and illustrated may be made without,however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appendedclaim.

What is claimed is:

A backrest cushion for providing selective, localized support to apersons back from the hips to the base of the neck comprising flexiblewall means defining three inflatable and substantially expandablechambers divided by horizontal flexible walls and adapted to be disposedi front of the backrest of a seating means, the lower chamber beinglocated in the sacroiliac region of the back, the middle chamber beinglocated at the small of the back; and the upper chamber being located inthe region of the upper spine, shoulders, and lower neck, means forseparately inflating each chamber whereby to provide selected, localizedsupport to the back at different levels, said flexible wall meansdefining vertically extending protuberances at the lateral edges of saidchambers, the upper chamber being provided with a horizontally extendingprotuberance disposed across the top edge of said upper chamber whichjoins said vertically extending protuberances so that a continuousresilient ridge is provided along the sides and across the top of thecushion to provide lateral support against sidewise movement andrearward support at the base of the neck of a person seated against saidcushion, said protuberance disposed across the top edge of said upperchamber being provided with a rounded recess shaped to receive the lowerneck portion of a person seated against said backrest cushion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,818 8/1952 Dabbs et al.297231 2,838,099 6/1958 Warner 297231' 3,093,407 6/1963 Wilson 29743,099,892 8/1963. Feinerrnan 297-460 3,161,436 12/1964 Hood 297-4603,165,355 1/1965 Hitchcock et al. 297-284 3,192,541 7/1965 Moore 297284FOREIGN PATENTS 414,131 8/1934 Great Britain.

754,248 8/ 1956 Great Britain.

847,192 9/1960 Great Britain.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL. Primary Examiner.

